New Members Always Welcome! MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL (2014 - 2015) TIME IS HERE!
Dues are only $20 per year for full membership (licensed amateur)
or associate membership (individual interested in amateur radio) plus $10 for
NSARA membership for a total of $30 annually. Support the fine work that SARC and the NSARA does for YOU!
***Please remember that membership dues are necessary to finance club operations - especially the Cape Breton linked system and Echolink!

Donations of equipment or money are always appreciated.

Sydney Amateur Radio Club clubhouse

Please come visit us on Saturday Mornings at the club at
11 St. Bridget Street, Sydney, Nova Scotia. ...from 10 AM until 1 PM or so...

Don't forget: NSARA CONTEST: &nbsp March 6, 2016.
(NOW the NSARA contest takes place each year on the FIRST Sunday in March.)
Click for more info.

2 Meter Wake-up Net - Weekdays at 07:30 AM.
The 2 Meter Wake Up Net was established by Percy - VE1PLV. Controllers are
Bob - VE1DR, Al - VE1ZS, Norm - VY2NR, Mike - VE1MWJ, Max - VE1XAM, and of course Percy.
We operate five days a week, including most holidays, and we run from 0730 to 0845 hrs if traffic justifies the use of the repeaters.

SARC Members Installation Crew
at VE1HAM Site

New repeater equipment was installed at the VE1HAM site by SARC members on May 21, 2013.
Equipment for the installation was generously provided by the NSARA.

Roy, Greg, Walter, Daryl, George, Paul, Howie, Andrew, John

Next was Cape Smokey,
the VE1CBI Site

New repeater equipment was installed at the VE1CBI site by SARC members on June 9, 2013.
Again, equipment for the installation was generously provided by the NSARA.

INTERNATIONAL MARCONI DAY
WAS CELEBRATED AT MARCONI NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE IN GLACE BAY ON
SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2013, STARTING AT 10 AM.
THERE WAS NO MEETING AT THE SARC CLUBHOUSE ON THAT DAY !
WE MADE LOTS OF CONTACTS AND HAD A FUN TIME !

On the last Tuesday of every month at 19:00 AST/ADT, there is an Emergency Radio Communications Exercise that takes place on the NS VHF amateur radio network, on Echolink, and on HF at 3675 kHz. An assigned NET Control Operator, at a scheduled EOC Center, takes “check-ins” from: Municipal EMO Stations, EOC’s, ARES, Canwarn and individual Amateur Radio Operators throughout the province. The name of this exercise is “Exercise Handshake”. It is extremely important that all SARC members take the time to check in to this NET Control, and identify themselves as members of SARC. The statistics or activity counts that are generated from this exercise are used as part of a justification or assessment of a region’s AR communications participation. If our participation is high it is much easier to apply for funding, surplus equipment, or support resources. If participation is low the numbers will indicate a lack of support activity on our part.

(The above 5 are all now continuously and permanently linked via UHF. Some amateur radio organizations would call this "hard-linked" although the linking here is by UHF)

NOTICE: VE1HK repeater (now, 146.610 -) has been moved to its new location at Hunter's Mountain, Victoria County, and is linked into the C. B. system. Comments concerning its coverage and operation are welcome, and may be directed to the club email address above, or to any member.

The Oban repeater,VE1OBN 147.105 (+) near St. Peters, is operated by the NSARA. It is UHF linked to VE1HAM, so it is permanently linked to the SARC Cape Breton repeaters.
To link the Cape Breton system (via Oban) to the mainland UHF backbone, dial: 196*, to disconnect: 197*.

The mainland link is via VE1RTI in Antigonish, the provincial hub repeater. So by dialing 196* on any Cape Breton repeater, you are linking all Cape Breton repeaters (via Oban) to the UHF backbone through VE1RTI. (Antigonish) Once this is done, you can link to any other maritime repeater, including VE1RTI, using the appropriate link code.

For example, suppose you wish to connect to the Fredericton repeater, VE1BN. After linking to the mainland UHF backbone by dialing 196* and hearing the voice announcement confirming the link, then dial 150#, and you are connected. Of course, please identify your station as per regulations, before inputting any tones!

Notice: SARC is currently upgrading their VHF hard-linked community repeater network system. Over the course of the next few months all existing sites will be undergoing much needed modifications and hardware/software changes. These upgrades will increase our existing island coverage areas immensely. SARC members are encouraged to utilize the repeater network from their home and mobile station location. Please forward your comments, technical findings and suggestions about the repeater network to any member of the executive.
All local amateurs are also encouraged to ensure that their SARC Club and NSARA dues are currently paid and up to date. All amateurs should also realize, while they are using the SARC repeater system, they should conduct themselves appropriately, and any and all use of the SARC repeater network system is a privilege. From time to time SARC may take the network out of regular service for technical adjustments, special events and communications exercises. In the event of this occurring only emergency traffic will be permitted by the NET Controller. SARC also wishes to thank the NSARA for their much needed assistance in providing the equipment for our upgrades. All visiting amateurs are welcome to use our repeater network. This repeater network is for the pleasure and enjoyment of everyone, 73 to all.

"Silent Key" is an endearing and respectful term for a deceased amateur radio operator. Since the early days of amateur radio, the Morse key played a vital role in amateur communication. In the beginning, it was the only means of communicating. Now that there are a multitude of voice, video, and digital communication modes, Morse code is still a vital, vibrant, and popular way for amateurs to enjoy radio, and the Morse key remains an enduring symbol of amateur radio. For proof, just check the lower end of 20M on any day the band is open!
"Silent Key" is sometimes abbreviated "SK" - when sent without spaces, this prosign means "end of contact".
We miss all our Silent Keys. Their contributions to amateur radio in Cape Breton are an inspiratation to us all. Let us remember them fondly!

AND you can do a practice Basic exam (I advise people to do MANY): HERE.

The exam generator, question bank, practice tests, etc., for BASIC and ADVANCED are on
the
Amateur Radio Exam Generator page.
I urge you to be familiar with the material on this page. Your exam will be generated
from the questions contained there. Please beware of material from
other sources!